Electrolytic cell.



J. B: BURDETT.

ELECTROLYTIC OELL APPLICATION FILED 001*. 29, 1912.'

1 mm; 25 Patented Aug. 18,1914,

illlhlililtlll) %ZEAT.E% T @FFHJE B, BU'I-KIEIITT. 01- CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO DAVISBOU'RNONVILLE COM- 'YIORK.

.-. ANY, 01" NEW YORK, N. Y., AND CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEN ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 539. 1912.

To (I/Z 4 7/1 om it may com-c172,:

lc it known that I. Jouu P). Bnnon'r'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county oi t'ooli. State of Illinois, have made. a certain new and useful Invention .in Electrolytic Cells, of which the to lowin" is a, specification.

. invention relates to electrolytic cells designed particularly for the manufacture 10 of oxygen and hydrogen by an electrolytic deconiposition of caustic alkali solution or other suitable electrolyte.

The object of the invention is to provide an electrolytic cc l oi the character referred to which is simple in structure, efficient in operation. and wherein. separation and separate iizollertion ot the gases evolved from the electrolytic decomposition is accomplished.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination and arrangement or parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth. as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Rehzrring to the accompanying drawings, and to the various views and reference signs :uipearing thereon Figure 1 is a view in vertical section showing an electrolytic cell embodying the principles of my invention, Fig. 2 is a view in section on the line 22 Fig. l looking in the direction oi the arrows. Fig. 5 is a brolien detail view in section on I a plane at right angles to the plane of secti n o'l Fig.

in the commercial manufacture of oxygen and lryulrocxm caustic alkali or other suitable solution is subjectml to the decomposing acdo tion of an electric current whereby the solution is decomposed into its componentgases. For cnmniercial use it is exceedingly desirable to secure as complete a separation as possible of the gases evolved by the elecytic action, so as to produce the oxygen u the hydrogen sermrately in as pure conion as an be attained. lvlloreover, during I dorruuposlng action any intermingling or mixture ol the oxygen and hydrogen :1 e'a in the relative proportion thcreoi rcprired to "form water is exceedingly dangerous since such a mixture is highly explosive s it is well known. For this reason it is i 'hly necessary to prevent any possible in termingling of the generated gases resulting 5 from the decompositimi or electrolytic action.

In accomplishing the electrolytic decomposition of the solution in the manufacture of oxygen and hydrogen, in accordance with my invention, suitable electrodes are immersed in the electrolyte, and to a depth sui'licient to enable the supcrincumbent weight or head of the liquid to serve to prevent the gas evolved at one of a pair of 6 electrodes from being carried along by the decon'iposing action of the electric current to the other electrode of the pair, soas to become intern'iingled or mixed with the gas generated or evolved from the other elec- 7o trode.

In accordance with the principles of my invention, I propose to employ inverted hells to inclose or partially inc-lose the electrode plates, and to suspend the inverted bells and electrode plates within the cell vessel to a. depth sullicient tor the hydrostatic pressure or head of the electrolyte to accomplish the function of preventing the evolved gases from becon'iing intermingled during the de- 8O composing or electrolytic action. I also propose to widen the mouths of the bells so as to insure the entrance of the evolved gas into the bell, the evolved gases thus'being sepa ratcly collected.

Referring to the drawings, reference lettor A, designates the cell container or vescl, and which is provided with a top or cover B, from which is sus iended a carrying bracket llel'erence letter D, desig- 9O nates the inverted hell or gas collector element, one being provided for each clertroi'le plate. The bell receivers l are provided with lugs T6, at he ends thereof, and these. ogs are receivml and supported upon the 85 h n'izontal portion of the supporting brackets (l, as clearly shown in the drawings. It desired, and preferably, a strip of hard rubber or other insulating material l may he interposed'bctwcen the lugs hi, and the horizontal portions of the supporting brackets This arrangement provides a. very simpie and ellicient means for supporting and suspending the bell-shaped collectors and the electrode plates within the vessel A, oi. the cell. An electrode plate (1, extends up partially into the inverted bell receiver I),

and at its upper edge is suitably connected to an electrode rod or circuit terminal pole J, as clearly shown in the drawings, and from which suitable circuit connections are made for the current employed to accomplish the electrolytic decomposition of the electrolyte.

The pole J, extends through the bell D, or an opening throu 'h the closed upper side thereof, and is inelosed within a tube K. Pipes L, communicate with the bells and se "we to collect the gases and to conduct the same to any suitable receiver therefor. The tubes K and pipes L, extend through openings in the closed upper sideof the bell. The bell is inverted with its closed side uppermost. At its lower edge or mouth the edges of the walls of the bells are flared or enlarged. A convenient arrangement is shown wherein. the lower edges of the hell are beveled as shown at M. The electrode plate G extends below the lower beveled edges of bell D, and into the electrolyte which is to be decomposed.

In the operation of the cell a current of electricity is supplied to the element or electrode plate G, and in passing through the electrolyte from one plate to the other the electrolyte is decomposed and resolved into its constituent gases. One gas, as oxygen, for instance, collects in the cell 1) of one of the electrode plates, while the other gas, as hydrogen, is collected in the next, adjacent bell. .It has been found that the gases form and collect in the vicinity of or on the surface of the plates. The gas will rise along the sides or surfaces of the plates and is collected in the inverted bells D, which inclosc the plates; By beveling the lower edges of the bells, or otherwise enlarging or flaring the receiving mouth thereof, I am enabled to secure a better separation of the gases and to insure the efficient collection of each gas separately Within its own bell member I); As above explained the entire cell element is immersed in the electrolyte to a sullicient depth for the head or weight of the superincumbent electrolyte to form a hydrostatic pressure which resists the tendency of the gases to rise through the electrolyte to the surface or from being carried alongthrongh the electrolyte from one plate to the next adjacent plate.

It will be understood, of course, that any suitable or convenient means for insulating the tubes K and L, and electrode poles or rods J, from the bell I) may be employed. it will also be understood that any suitable or convenient means for connecting the poles J, to their respective electrode plates G, may be adopted. I

In order to still further insure an cllicicut separation of the evolved gases, adjacent bclls containing the cleclrodes G, may be separated by intcrmediale bells contaii'ling r separating aprons ll.

It will be understood that as many cell elements, each comprising an electrode plate, its connecting rod or pole J, tube K, inverted cell member I), and pipe L, ma ployed, as desired in order to make up a complete cell. In these respects my invention is not to be limited or restricted.

It will also be understood that many variations and changes in the details of con-' struction and arrangement may readily occur to persons skilled in the art and still fall within the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the claims. I do not desire to be limited or restricted, therefore, to the exact details shown and described.

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention, and a construction embodying the. principles thereof, which I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In an electrolytic cell, a vessel to contain the electrolyte, a top or cover therefor,

av support carried by the top or cover and depending into said vessel, an inverted bell having a lug at the side thereof, said lug resting upon saidsupport, whereby said bell is suspended from said support'and is immersed in the electrolyte contained therein to av depth sufficient for the hydrostatic head or pressure of tlie electrolyte to prevent inter-mingling of the evolved gases, an electrode plate positioned within said inverted bell, and a gas delivery pipe communicating with said bell.

, 2. I n an electrolytic cell, a vessel to contain the electrolyte, a. supporting member depending into said vessel, inverted bells each having a lug at the side thereof, said lugs resting on said supporting member whereby said bells are suspended from said member and are immersed in the electrolyte to a depth snllicient for the hydrostatic head.

or pressure of the electrolyte to prevent intermingling of the evolved gases, an electrode plate positioned within each bell and a gas dclivey pipe connnunicating with each bell. v

3. In an electrolytic cell, a vessel to contain the electrolyte, a support depending into said vessel, inverted bells suspended from said support, electrode plates arranged wilhin said bells and extending-into the electrolyte a depth sullicient to utilize the hydrostalic head or pressure of the electrolyte to prevent inter-mingling of the evolved gases, circuit terminal rods or poles connet-ted to said plates and pipe connections communicating with said bells, the open mouths of the inverted bells being beveled.

-l-. In an electrolytic cell, a. vessel to contain the electrolyte, an inverted bell suspended in. said vessel and i inmcrsed in the electrolyte contained therein 'to a depth sullicient to utilize the hydrostatic head dr T be 0111- W with said bell, Nitnessesr EJ07 257 I pressure of the electrolyte to prevent she in- Witnesses, on this 12th day of Uctober, A. Di,

termingling of the evolved gases, an elec 1912. t

trode plate erran ed Within the inverts bell, and a gas (18157813 pipe communicating JOHN U D In testimony whereof 1 have hereunto set FRANK JOHNSON,

my hand in the presence of the subscribing S. E. DARBY 

